Dingo warning for visitors

AS THE Christmas holiday crowds stake out their claims on Fraser Island, camping families are being advised to remain behind the wire dingo fences.

AS THE Christmas holiday crowds stake out their claims on Fraser Island, camping families are being advised by the State Government to remain behind the wire dingo fences.

But a Tewantin based island dingo welfare lobbyist, Marie-Louis Sarjeant believes it is the dingoes who need protecting from four-wheel-drive strikes and barbaric collars, as well as taunting by humans.

Camp life has never been as relaxed and comfortable on the island since the tragic death of nine-year-old Clinton Gage, who was attacked by two dingoes near Waddy Point in April 2001.

Acting Environment Minister Rachel Nolan has warned parents camping on Fraser to be particularly careful and follow the dingo safety information provided by Queensland Parks and Wildlife Service.

"Rangers have a 'zero tolerance' approach to people who ignore warnings and feed dingoes or leave food exposed that attracts them. Fines between $300 and $4000 could apply," Ms Nolan said.

"Our rangers are on the ground ensuring dingo-safe messages were front and centre of people's minds during the holiday season," she said.

"I urge visitors to lock up food stores, secure your cooler, keep fish and bait secure and pack away food scraps and rubbish.

"Dingoes are not like domestic dogs, they are wild and unpredictable animals, despite their shy and hungry appearance."

Ms Nolan said groups with children and young teens were urged to camp in fenced areas at Central Station, Dundubara, Lake Boomanjin, Dilli Village and Waddy Point (top) campgrounds.

"People should always stay with their children and not let them wander out of sight.

"And visitors and residents of any age should walk in groups, rather than alone.

"If watching dingoes, do so quietly from a distance and do not disturb their natural behaviour, feed them or coax them with food.

Ms Nolan said aside from risking a fine, feeding dingoes put other people at risk and could also lead to the death of a dingo.

"In line with Fraser Island's Dingo Management Strategy any dingo which bites or threatens people may be deemed to pose an unacceptable risk and will be destroyed, humanely," she said.

In the leadup to the Christmas holidays, Ms Sarjeant wrote to Environment Minister Vicky Darling with a signed petition from 7000 people, concerned about the island management of these animals.

Many of the signatures were collected at the Eumundi Markets.

Ms Sarjeant said a "dangerous decline" of Fraser dingoes and the "unrestricted mass of tourist swarming onto the island" were interlinked.

She said it was extremely urgent, with the holidays in progress, that people be warned of the correct behaviour towards dingoes.

"Dingoes are still taunted and teased and when a rare one is now spotted, it is then harassed by excited tourists, all wanting to take a photo.

"(It's) a recipe for disaster waiting to happen," she said.

"It is extremely important now for the few dingoes left to have a chance of continuing their species, that they are not put at risk by four-wheel vehicle strikes, which now kill far too many."

Ms Sarjeant said dingoes that are approached by tourists and responded out of curiosity, in the past had been identified by rangers and put down.

Originally published as Dingo warning for visitors